Central University of Jammu and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the North Block, New Delhi, in the presence of the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. The MoU enables the two institutes to promote collaborative academic, research and capacity-building initiatives for a period of three years and thereafter subject to renewal.The MoU was signed by Shri Kalyan K. Roy, Registrar on behalf of ASCI and Shri. Mohammed Iqbal, I/C Registrar, Central University, Jammu. Also present on the occasion were Shri R.H. Khwaja, Director General, ASCI and Prof. Ashok Aima, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Jammu. Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Shri B.P. Sharma and Shri C. Viswanath, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Secretary, Department of Pensions & Pensioners’ Welfare, Prof Ashok Ogra, Executive Council Member, CUJ, Sh. Naveen Kachroo, CEO, South Delhi Motor Corporation, Dr. Shahid Mushtaq and Dr Paul Sughandhar also witnessed the MoU signing ceremony. The MoU facilitates joint activities and synergy in areas such as capacity building, evaluation studies, executive education and related areas. This includes activities such as design, development and delivery of teaching and training programmes; reciprocal recognition of each other’s degrees, diplomas, certificates etc; exchange of teaching staff and students/participants for knowledge and experience-sharing and new learning; policy advocacy and research studies; sharing of academic materials, literature, publications etc; and knowledge events such as conferences, seminars, workshops etc. The MoU would help in undertaking Capacity building programmes for the government of India, executive education programmes catering to the govt. Officials particularly in J&K State by establishing Dedicated Centre of Excellence for Good Governance & Policy Studies at the Central University of Jammu, with the Support of DoPT & ASCI, which will be coming up as first ever centre in Northern part of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said the MoU will send a message to other Universities, especially in northern India, to build on such partnerships which provide global exposure. At Independence there were very few Universities, but now the issue is not accessibility but quality of education, he said. In times of global synergy, you cannot live in isolation, he added. Dr Jitendra Singh was later presented with a book on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam by Shri Khwaja, DG, ASCI. Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that a state-of-art resource centre, ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Center for Policy Research and Analysis’ was formally launched in October 2016 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM), Shillong in tribute to the former President. Other faculty members and Senior Officers of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions were also during the MoU signing ceremony.Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble Minister appreciated the efforts of Central University of Jammu and congratulated the Vice Chancellor in engaging with Centres of Excellence which in long term gives a national visibility to the University in the years to come. Dr. Jitendra Singh has assured all possible support in realising the mandate of Good Governance of the GOI in reforming, transforming and performing public service excellence and assured all possible help to Central University of Jammu, in its academic endeavours of establishing the Centre of Excellence in Good Governance in J&K.
Prof Ashok Aima briefed about the activities of the University and possible areas of engagement with ASCI. Shri. R. H. Khawaja has stressed upon the thrust areas in working closely with Central University of Jammu particularly in providing the support in terms of establishment of Centre for Good Governance in CUJ. Shri. Bhanu Pratap Sharma, Secretary DoPT, GOI has assured all possible support in strengthening the academic endeavours of the University. It is pertinent to mention here that The Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad is a not-for-profit, public-purpose institution of repute and is engaged in providing management education, management training, research and advisory services to the government and industry. The objective of this agreement is to explore practical approaches to creating mutually beneficial relationship and institutional support towards promoting collaborative academic, research and capacity-building initiatives. The MOU signing ceremony was coordinated by Dr Shahid Mushtaq, Dr Paul Sughandhar from CUJ and Prof Chandrashekhar and Dr Ashita from ASCI.